CHAPTER 4: THE JUDGE’S PRICE
Judge Malcolm Pierce was scheduled to preside over Khloe’s divorce hearing.
That was not a coincidence.
The footage showed Richard pouring bourbon while Pierce examined documents concerning Khloe’s supposed mental instability.
“I’ll order the evaluation,” Pierce said. “Once she’s classified as emotionally impaired, the asset restrictions become easier.”
“And custody?” Richard asked.
“The court usually favors stability.”
Richard laughed.
“She’ll be recovering from childbirth. Vanessa and I will already be living together.”
The video ended.
Khloe sat motionless in Harrison’s conference room.
“He planned to take my daughter.”
Harrison closed the laptop.
“He planned to take everything.”
“Can we arrest them?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not? We have them on video.”
“We have footage copied from a home system. Richard’s attorneys will challenge the collection method. Pierce will claim the envelope contained legal documents.”
“I saw the money.”
“We saw an envelope.”
Khloe pushed herself out of the chair.
“So they walk away?”
“No.”
Harrison approached the window.
“We make them move faster. Guilty people become careless when they believe time is running out.”
The next morning, Harrison filed a confidential motion asking the state court to freeze several Harrington Commercial accounts. He did not mention Richard, Vanessa, or Judge Pierce by name. He described irregular financial activity connected to marital property.
Within three hours, Richard knew about it.
By noon, he had called Khloe seventeen times.
She finally answered.
“What did you do?” he demanded.
“I hired a lawyer.”
“You hired your brother.”
“You served me divorce papers.”
“That was supposed to be handled privately.”
“You mean secretly.”
Richard lowered his voice.
“Come home. We can discuss this.”
“No.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
Khloe looked across the room at Harrison.
“Am I?”
Richard remained silent before speaking again.
“Your brother can’t protect you forever.”
Harrison took the phone from her.
“She doesn’t need forever,” he said. “She only needs me until the evidence reaches the right desk.”
Richard hung up.
That evening, Harrington Commercial’s board called an emergency meeting. Investors had begun asking why funds were being moved through companies linked to Vanessa.
Richard denied everything.
Then he produced forged documents bearing Khloe’s signature.
According to those papers, Khloe had personally authorized every transfer.
The board immediately notified federal investigators.
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Richard’s trap had closed.
But Khloe was the one standing inside it.
